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The article presents a study which compares the behavior and early performance of a tropical damselfish Abudefduf vaigiensis and its co-occurring year-round resident Parma microlepsis in water under nominal summer and winter temperatures along the Southeast Australian coast. It evaluates whether starvation, reduced growth and reduced escape ability can explain the increased mortality among them in a given temperature. It was found out that feeding rate, escape ability and survivorship were reduced among the Abudefduf vaigiensis species under winter water temperatures. However, only feeding rate was reduced and no mortality was recorded among the Parma microlepsis in such water temperature. It suggests that overwinter survival is a factor that hinders the expansion of the tropical fishes.